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Video: Children see, children do

 

A reminder.

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Quote: Make the World Safe for Diversity

"If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity." ~ John F. Kennedy
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Book: "The Painted Man: What My Son Taught Me About Race"

The Painted Man: What My Son Taught Me About Race
by Desmond Williams
Another great find! Father in a multiracial family, Desmond Williams, puts pen (pencil) to paper and creates a soon-to-be-published graphic novel The Painted Man: What My Young Son Taught Me About Race. The collection is a "coming of race” memoir that finds a dad confronted by racially charged questions posed directly by his young son and the people with whom they come into contact. This book can be used as a conversation starter, a self-reflection inducer, or simply a window into an experience that might not reflect your own. More about The Painted Man
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Children's Book: "Mother's Day" (multiracial)

Mother's Day by Anne Rockwell

In my constant endeavor to find books that reflect diversity, I ran across this great book by author Anne Rockwell. I thought the timing couldn’t be more perfect! Mother’s Day is set in Mrs. Madoff’s class where children (reflecting different cultures and ethnicities) discuss the different ways they will celebrate the holiday, making breakfast, hiking, snuggling, etc. The children were asked to bring in a button for class that they use in making a special tissue paper flower for mom (bonus: instructions are included). I enjoyed many things about the book (illustrations are darling) but I especially liked that a single mother is represented along with a grandmother raising her granddaughter. The children and mothers spent lots of time picking out their button and had little stories about why they chose their particular button. Mom’s didn’t know what the button was for and were surprised that it was to make a flower. Really sweet book! Buy your copy here! Do you have any books to share?

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Poem: "Lisa" by Beverly McLoughland (biracial)

I found the following treasure at a school book fair many years ago. It was buried in a book titled "Through Our Eyes: Poems and Pictures About Growing Up". The book is filled with sweet poems, but I especially enjoyed this one: 

Lisa
by Beverly McLoughland
Lisa’s father is
Black
And her mother is
White,
And her skin is a
Cinnamon
Delight,
Her hair is
Dark
And her eyes are
Light,
And Lisa is
Lisa,
Day and
Night.
And Lisa is
Lisa,
Night and
Day,
Though there are
People
Who sometimes
Say–
Well, is Lisa
That,
Or is Lisa
This? –
Lisa is
Everything
She is.
Lisa is
Lisa,
Day and
Night,
And her skin is a
Cinnamon
Delight,
And Lisa is
Sun
And Lisa is
Star,
And Lisa is
All
The dreams that
Are.
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Quote: Diversity Makes for a Rich Tapestry

"We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color." ~ Maya Angelou
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